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Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake entirely within California, with 68 square miles of surface area. The expansive, warm water of Clear Lake makes it ideal for recreation, including swimming, water skiing, sailing, and boating. Its...more

Before the algae blooms the lake is beautiful. But the shallow lake heats up when the weather gets hot - toward the end of July. When that happens there's no oxygen for the fish and there is a die off and it does get nasty...More

We go here at least every couple of years. It’s easy to get to from the SF Bay Area and everyone has things they can do. Summer months are a bit brutal because of the high temperatures but if you are good with that then...More

For a calming morning during our week-long stay at Soda Bay, we enjoyed the nature paths at Clear Lake State Park. There were only a few campers left over from the Memorial Day Weekend; otherwise, the place was deserted. Not so good for the park,...More

Clear Lake the city is nothing much. There might be one coffee shop. The city is a lot less picturesque than I expected. But Clear Lake the lake is fantastic.
Who knew that place was here? The lake area is fantastic for driving, hiking, or...More

As I sit on our rental home deck gazing out onto the pea green algae infested waters of Clearlake. I wonder who gave its name. It reminds me of Lake Elsinore in So. Cal. There's only one thing to say, disgusting. Dead fish floating from...More

Seriously, "Clearlake", it is not. This lake has so much filamentous blue-green algae that a more fitting name, as many reviewers have noted, would be "Green Pea Soup Lake. Excess nutrients (sewage, fertilizer, etc,) plus toxic mercury have destroyed this ancient natural wonder. As a...More

We spent one day at Clear Lake as part of a road trip around northern California. When we finally reached our destination and got down to the lake, we found green water. Aquarists like myself are familiar with green water. It's an algae bloom of...More

It is safe unless there is a blue white slimy algae. The green stuff is just plant life. Water is best away from shore. Away from shore I would swim anywhere in the lake. Some areas have a lot of vine like weeds. Stay away... More

It is safe unless there is a blue white slimy algae. The green stuff is just plant life. Water is best away from shore. Away from shore I would swim anywhere in the lake. Some areas have a lot of vine like weeds. Stay away from those areas when swimming or boating. It messes up the engine and prop. Swim, ski, have fun!